The Tribune

By YOURI KEMP

Tribune Business Reporter

ykemp@tribunemedia.net

A US-based environmental firm is “still working” on post-Dorian clean-up in Abaco after achieving “resolution” to its previous dispute with Customs, it was confirmed yesterday.

Ken Hutton, Abaco’s Chamber president, said the clash that forced Ceres Environmental Services to temporarily halt their work had enjoyed “a resolution of sorts. They are still on the island, and they are still working in a private capacity”.

Karl Dix, Ceres’ representative on Abaco, told Tribune Business: “Yes. We have been working with Customs over the last two or three weeks to make sure everyone has a full understanding of what we have done to-date and how do we stay in compliance.”

As to the company’s expected departure from Abaco, he added: “Right now it’s kind of up in the air; we have only been focusing on private work. The North Abaco Rebuild Initiative (NARI) has been our primary partner.

“One of the second homeowners on Abaco has put in a lot of funds for the rebuild initiative, and has made it only available to local Abaco homeowners. The fund is also being made available for debris removal on Treasure Cay and the surrounding areas.”

One source, familiar with the situation but speaking on condition of anonymity, previously blamed the clash on post-Dorian disarray at Bahamas Customs. They revealed that Ceres had obtained the necessary approvals to come in with its equipment, and also obtained work permits and a business licence.

“Customs is all screwed up in Abaco,” the source said. “This [Ceres] is a group that goes all over the world doing this work and they were hired by a group of Abaco homeowners from Treasure Cay to get the job done. I think they’re going to be alright but it’s created a big ‘hoo-ha’.

“Customs, when they realised they’d made a mistake and not done their job in getting a Form B, tried to cover their ‘you know what’. Customs is a mess. The port was so crowded that they told people to take their equipment and go as it was full of cargo.

“Customs did not have the wherewithal to do their job, and they were embarrassed they did not have the paperwork done. It’s Customs’ fault. They’re [Ceres] not leaving. They almost left. It’s one of those situations that had to go up to the Prime Minister’s Office. The organisation is not there to take care of this thing. There’s no local administration.”

The source added that it was essential that The Bahamas permit firms such as Ceres to enter the country to assist with post-Dorian debris removal, remediation and restoration as this nation simply lacked the manpower, resources and expertise necessary to cope with the scale of devastation.

However, the Ceres incident reinforced for some the impression that reconstruction is being hindered by a slow and meddling government bureaucracy.

The Department of Inland Revenue’s website says that under the Exigency Order put in place after Hurricane Dorian on October 3, hurricane relief supplies could be imported into The Bahamas duty-free and VAT-free based on the conditions outlined in the order. Importers must complete a simple, one-page application form to benefit from these tax breaks.